Dispensing apparatus



J. E. HOWARD, JR

DISPENSING APPARATUS Sept. 8, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1956J. E. HOWARD, JR

DISPENSING APPARATUS Sept. 8, 1959 Filed March 2, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Sept. 8, 1959 J. E. HOWARD, JR 2,903,153

DISPENSING APPARATUS Y Filed March 2, 1956 s Shets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JA 5E.HARDJR.

1 ATTRNEY United States Patent DISPENSING APPARATUS James E. Howard,Jr., Feeding Hills, Mass, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 2,1956, Serial No. 569,071

Claims. (Cl. 221-261) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus andmore particularly to a device for dispensing bottled beverages or thelike.

This invention is an improvement upon that class of vending machineswherein bottles of liquid beverage are stored in stacked relationship ina supply magazine and are released therefrom individually in response toactuation of a coin-controlled releasing mechanism.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide improved meansfor releasing the lowermost bottle from a magazine containing stackedbottles.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bottle releasingmechanism which is reliable, inexpensive to construct and capable ofgently handling the bottles with a minimum of bumping or jarring toprevent damage to the bottles and disturbance of their contents.

This invention is particularly applicable to vending machines whereinthe bottles are stored in stacked relationship with their axes in a nearhorizontal position and in which the lowermost bottle only is supportedby a releasing mechanism; the remaining bottles in the stack resting onand gaining support from the lowermost bottle. In the mechanismhereinafter described, the lowermost bottle is supported by stationarymeans at its neck end, while the bottom or butt end of this bottle restson a movable releasing means. Dispensing is accomplished by movement ofthe releasable means which supports the butt end of the lowermostbottle. The neck end of the lowermost bottle tilts on and eventuallyslides off the stationary supporting means during the dispensingoperation. In accordance with this invention novel means are providedfor supporting the next lowermost bottle during the period in which thelowermost bottle is released and for preventing interference between theneck ends of the two lowermost bottles during this dispensing operation.

The principal feature of the invention resides in means for promotinglateral displacement of the neck end of the lowermost bottle withrespect to the neck end of the next lowermost bottle to permit the neckend of the lowermost bottle to move on its stationary supporting meanswith a tilting action without interfering or colliding with the neck ofthe next lowermost bottle. This displacement of the lowermost bottleprompts a uniformly smooth dispensing action by the vending apparatus.

These and other objects and features of the invention are effected bythis invention as will be apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate three forms of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a single stack dispensing magazineemploying this invention and in which the upper portion of the magazinehas been omitted to simplify the drawing;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately through thecenter of the magazine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the bottles and thedispensing mechanism in adifferent position in the vending cycle fromthat shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view from the rear of the dispensingmagazine and taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation view of a bottle dispensing magazineemploying a modification of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the magazine illustrated in Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the magazine of Fig. 6illustrating the bottles and the dispensing mechanism in anotherposition in the vending sequence;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view from the rear of the magazine and taken alongthe line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated by the line IXIXof Fig. 10 and illustrating the lower portion of a bottle dispensingmagazine employing a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the dispensing magazineillustrated in Fig. 9, the view being taken as indicated by the lineX--X in Fig. 9

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the magazine illustrated in Fig.9, the view being taken as indicated by the line XI-XI in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the bottles and thedispensing mechanism in a different position in the vending cycle; and vFig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the magazine taken as indicatedby the line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4which illustrate the first embodiment of the invention, the numeral 11indicates generally a magazine for storing a plurality of bottles 12 instacked relationship. The bottles, with the exception of the lowermostbottle, are confined in the vertical stack with all of their axesaligned substantially in a single vertical plane by front and rear guideportions of the magazine 11 indicated by the numerals 13 and 14,respectively. The front guide 13 comprises a pair of sheet metal wallmembers 16 each having a flanged forward portion 17 extending toward theopposite wall member and partially closing off the front of the spacebetween the wall members 16 to prevent bottles from accidentally slidingforward and out of the magazine. The magazine front guide members 16extend downwardly to form supporting legs 18 for the front edge of themagazine. The spacing of the front guide members 16 is such as toloosely confine the bottom or butt end of the bottles 12 therebetween.

' The rear guide 14 has a channeled or U-shaped cross section adapted toloosely receive the top or neck end of the bottles 12 and, as shown inFig. 1, is preferably displaced to one side of the center of the spacebetween the front guide members 16.

The rear guide 14 terminates a short distance above a stationary supportmember 19 which is a novel and important element of this invention. Thestationary support 19 is carried by a portion 21 of the magazinestructure 11 having side walls 22 which are spaced a greater distanceapart than the side walls of the rear guide 14. (See Fig. 4.) Thisenlarged portion 21 of the magazine also has an end wall 23 spacedrearwardly of the rear wall of rear guide 14 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.This portion 21 of the magazine is attached to and supports the rearguide 14 and is, in turn, supported by a rear leg member 24. Also, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the portion 21 of the magazine 11 is providedwith a sloping bottom Wall 26 which is aligned with, and attached to,one end of a sloping chute 27 adapted to receive and guide releasedbottles toward the front of the magazine 11.

The bottom or butt end of the lowermost bottle 12 is supported byreleasable means consisting essentially of a cam shaped disc 28 having acutout portion 29. The disc 28 is secured to a rotatable shaft 31journalled in openings provided therefor in the front guide members 16.Suitable means are provided for driving the shaft 31 to rotate the disc28, which means may comprise an electric motor 32-shownvmounted7on-oneof the guide members 16. Coin-controlled means, thoughnot shown, are normally provided for controlling energization of theelectricmotor 32 to causeithe mechanism to undergo a dispensingoperation.

At the start of a dispensing operation for a single stack magazine asillustrated, the disc 28 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 inwhich the butt end of=the lowermost-bottle 12 rests in the cutoutportion 29 of the disc. This may talso be considered a position of rest:which the dispensing mechanismnssumes between dispensing-operations. Theneck end "of the 'lowermostbottle 12 rests on the stationary supportmember 19. It will be noted that the stationary-support 19: has aninclined portion 33:.disposed directly beneath the rear magazineguide-14 and a horizontal portion 34-idisplaced from beneath the rear;guide 14and adjacent the opposite Wall 22 of the enlarged magazineportion 21. This inclined portion 33 of the stationary support 19promotes lateral displacement ofthe neck end of the lowermost bottle 12with respect to the next lowermost bottle, which is in the positionshown in Fig. 2 with the neck end thereof confined in the rear guidemember 14. This displacement ofthe 'neck end of the lowermost bottle 12resultsin an angular displacement of the axis of the lowermost bottleinasmuch -as the-butt end of-the lowermost bottle is confined betweenthefront guide members 16. The. front guide members -16 maintain the:butt end of the lower- ;most bottle in substantial vertical alignmentwith the remaining-bottles in the'stack and center'this end :of thelowermost bottle over the :disc 28. notwithstanding the displacement ofthe neck end of the bottle.

. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the action of the dispensing mechanism inreleasing a bottlefrom'themagazine 11. As viewed in Fig. 3 the disc 28is rotated in a clockwise direction (indicated by the arrow), whichlowers the cutout portion 29 of the disc which supports thcbuttend ofthe lowermost bottle, and eventually the disc is moved to thepositionshown in Fig. 3 in which the butt end-of the. lowermost bottleis releasedand falls by gravity onto the sloping chute 27. :The butt'endof the bottle next abovethat being vended is supported by a-solidportion of 'theidisc. 28 whichwis moved thereunder as thedisc rotates.

1 As the butt end of the lowermost bottle isreleased, the neck thereoftilts on the stationarysupport 19. Because the neck end of the lowermostbottle is displaced'laterally fromtheneck of the next lowermostbottlefthe lowermost bottle is freeto tilt on and eventually-slide-oifof the "stationary support '19 without interference with' 'the neck endof the next lowermost bottle.

Aswan-beseen in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the only-contact :betweenthe lowermost bottle andthe next lowermost bottle, when the lowermostbottle is -released, islin a region spaced from theneck ends of thebottles. This region of contact is also spaced-forward of the stationarysupport 19 (to the left of support 19v as viewed inFig. 3). -Thus, asthe lowermost'bottletilts on support 19 the neck end of the nextlowermost bottle'is gently lowered out of rear guide member 14 and'theneck ends of these bottles move alongside one anotherwithout interferingwith each others movement. As the lowermost bottle descends by gravitydown the chute 27 to aposition where it is accessibleto the customer,the neck-of the next bottle" descends the'slopingportion 33ofthe-stationary support '19 and is laterally displaced 'as itcomes torest on'the horizontal portion 34 of the stationary support 19. Rotationof the disc 28 continues until it reaches'the-positionshown in Fig. 2 inwhich'the butt end of the bottle-is lowered intothe notchz29-and themechanism is conditionedfor the next-dispensing operation.

4 Second embodiment Figs. 5 through 8 of the drawings illustrate amodified vending magazine 41 utilizing the basic principles of thisinvention but having certain distinguishing features from the embodimentof the invention previously described.

The modified vending-.magazine 41 supports therein a plurality ofbottles 42 in stacked relationship. Like the first embodiment oftheinvention, the bottles 42 are confined. between frontand rear guides,designated 43 and. 44 respectively, :of the vending magazine '41. Thefront guide 43 consists of a pairof wall members 46 which looselyconfine the lower or butt end of the bottles 42 and have *opposedflanges 47 at the 'front 'thereof to prevent forward'movement of thebottles 42. The rear guide 44 of the magazine has a channel shaped crosssection for loosely confining the neck ends of the bottles 42 and, inthis embodiment of the invention, is centered with respect to the spacebetween the front gu'ide members 46 as shown in Fig. 8. The spacebetween the-"front guide flanges 47 and the rear wall of the rear guide44 is slightlyless than the height of the bottles being dispensed tocause the bottles torest in the magazine with their axes inclined to thehorizontal. This inclined storageof the bottles 42 has the advantage ofkeeping -the contents of the-bottles out of contact with the bottle-capor crown used to' close the top ofthe bottle. This -per- 'mits thebottles to be left in' the machine for extended periods of time withoutfear-of contamination of the bottle contents through contact with thebottle crown.

As in the case of'the first embodiment of the invention, the bottles 42are stacked one on the other -and-rest upon the-lowermost bottle, whichis supported'at its neck end by 'astationary support 48 spaced beneaththe rear guide portion 44 of the magazine. The bottom or butt end-ofthe-lowermost bottle 42 rests on a releasable supportingmeans-consisting principally of a rotatable starwheel-49. *The starwheel49 is secured to ashaft 51 which is journalled in lower leg portions52-.of the front guide members 47. An electric motor 53 mounted on oneof the gui'de'members 46 is connected to shaft 51and provides the powerto rotate the stearwheel 49.

During the dispensing operation, the starwheel 49 is rotated clockwiseas'indicated bythe arrow and fingers 54 of the starwheel 49 lower andrelease the butt end of the lowermost bottle while the neck end ofthisbottle tilts on-and eventually slides oft of the stationary support 48.Fig. 6 of the drawing illustrates'the positions of the bottles 42 andthestarwheel'dispensing member 49 as a bottle isjust being releasedfrom'the stack. In this figure'the'lowerm'ost bottle is just sliding offof one 'of the fingers 54 of'the starwheel 49 whilethe butt end of thenext 1 lowermost bottle 'is supported by another finger 54 otthestarwheel 49'and a pair of flange shaped shelf'members '56 disposed oneithersideof the'starwheel 49. The shelf members 56 are attached totheguide members 46 'andare'dispos'ed slightly above the axis of rotationof starwheel 49.

In "accordance with this invention the magazine' tl is constructed 'insuch a manner as to promote lateral displacement of the neck of'thelowermost bottle with respect to the neck of the next lowermostbottle'to prevent interference betweenthe necks of these bottles duringvending of the lowermost bottle. For this purpose the rear or bottleneck guiding portion of the magazine 41 has an enlarged or widenedportion57 above the stationary support 48 andbeneath the lower end ofthe rear guide channel 44. .This widened portion '57 is defined by apair of side walls '58 which are spaced apart a distance greater thantwice the width of the neck end ofthe bottlesbeing dispensed. Theenlarged portion 57 -is-defined' at the rear by a rear-wall 59 having are'arwardly' protruding portion 61 adjacent the stationary support 48to-permit rearward movement of .the bottles 42 asgthey are moved by 'thestarwheel 49.

. lowermost bottle.

The drawings illustrate the manner in which the enlarged portion 57 ofthe magazine 41 promotes lateral displacement of the neck end of thelowermost bottle with respect to the neck end of the next lowermostbottle. When the lowermost bottle has its neck end resting on thestationary support 48, the neck end of the next bottle above ispositioned beneath the lower end of the channel shaped rear guide 44and, therefore, is free to move to either side. Chance misalignmentbetween the axes of the lowermost bottle and the next lowermost bottletend to cause one of these bottles to move laterally in one direction,while the other moves in the opposite direction. The spaced walls 58 ofthe enlarged portion 57 of the magazine permit the next lowermost bottleto roll or slide on the lowermost bottle until the neck ends of the twobottles are out of vertical alignment an amount sufficient to permit thelowermost bottle to tilt on the stationary support 48 without the neckends of the bottles colliding. The central location of the rear guide 44permits the bottles emerging from the lower end of this member to moveeither to the right or to the left depending upon the position of thebottle next below. The neck ends of the bottles descending into theenlarged portion 57 of the magazine guide are thereby displacedalternately to the right and then to the left with the neck of thelowermost bottle always being displaced from the neck of the next As inthe first embodiment of the invention, the region of contact between thelowermost bottle and the next lowermost bottle is spaced from the neckends of the bottles and is forward of the stationary support 48; Thus,as the lowermost bottle tilts on support 48, the neck end of the nextlowermost bottle is gently lowered onto support 48.

If, for any reason, it is desired that the neck of the lowermost bottlealways be displaced to a particular side in magazine portion 57 as inthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the rear guide 44may, of course, be offset from the center of the magazine toward theside opposite that to which the lowermost bottle is to be moved.

The released bottle 42 falls onto a sloping chute 62 positioned at thebottom end of the magazine and is carried to a forward portion of themagazine where it is accessible to the customer. The rear or high end ofthe chute 62 is attached to and supported 'by a rear leg member'63 whichalso is attached to and supports the rear guide portions 44 and 57 ofthe magazine 41.

Third embodiment Sheet three of the drawings, containing Figs. 9 through13, illustrate a further embodiment of the invention which will also bedescribed with reference to a single stack magazine identified generallyby the reference numeral 71.

This embodiment, like the two embodiments previously described, employsa magazine, and a dispensing mechanism for the magazine which promoteslateral displacement of the neck end of the lowermost bottle to preventinterference between the bottle being dispensed and the bottle nextabove in the stack. This third embodiment, however, includes a furtherimprovement over the first two embodiments in that provision is made forkeeping the lowermost bottle completely out of contact with the next tothe lowermost bottle as the former is released from the magazine. Inother words, in the two previous embodiments, the neck ends of thelowermost and next to the lowermost bottles were in contact with oneanother as the lowermost bottle was released. In this third or improvedembodiment of Figs. 9 to 13 the next to the lowermost bottle is actuallysupported independently of the lowermost bottle and completely out ofcontact therewith while the lowermost bottle is being released. Themanner in which this improved action is accomplished will be apparentfrom the following description of this third embodiment.

The magazine 71 is adapted to contain bottles 72 in vertical stackedrelationship with the bottles being confined between front and rearchannel-shaped guides designated, respectively, 73 and 74. The rearguide 74, being shaped to receive the neck ends of the bottles, issmaller than the front guide 73 and is preferably offset from thecenterline of the front guide 73 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The guides73 and 74 permit the bottles to gravitate into the lower or dispensingregion of the magazine, the confines of which are defined by two sideWalls 75 and an end wall 76. The side walls 75 are spaced apart adistance greater than twice the diameter of the cap ends of the bottlesto: permit lateral displacement of the neck end of the lowermost bottle.The rear guide 74 terminates at the upper edge of one of the side walls75 and is secured thereto.

Disposed within the dispensing region of the magazine 71 are astationary support 77 and a releasable supporting means, such as therotatable starwheel 78, which support the bottles 72 within themagazine. The starwheel 78 is carried by a shaft 79 journalled in anextension of side walls of the front guide 73 and is driven by a powerunit, such as a geared motor indicated at 81. The bottom or butt ends ofthe bottles 72 descending from the magazine front guide 73 are supportedby the several fingers 8th of the starwheel 78.

The stationary support 77 extends between the dispensing regionsidewalls 75 and consists of a rod-like member having one end 82attached to the upper portion of the sidewall 75 which is adjacent therear guide 74. As can be seen in Figs. 9 and 11 of the drawing, this end82 of the stationary support is disposed slightly below the lower edge33 of the rear guide 74 and forward (toward the front guide portion 73)of the guide 74 in a position beneath the shoulder portion of thebottles 72 within the guides 73 and 7d. The stationary support 77 has asloping portion 84 extending downwardly and rearwardly from its upperend 82 into a horizontal portion 85 adjacent its other end 86 which isjoined to the other sidewall 75. As will be explained more fullyhereinafter, the lower horizontal portion 85 of the stationary support77 is adapted to support the neck end of a bottle 72 in a positiondisposed laterally from beneath the neck end of another bottle withinthe rear guide 74, and the sloping portion 84 of this support guides theneck end of the bottle over into this displaced position.

Figs. 9 through 11 show the positions of the elements of the dispensingmechanism and the bottles 72 within the magazine "ll as a bottle isbeing released. Referring to Fig. 9, the starwheel 78 has rotated to aposition in which the butt end of the lowermost bottle 72 is sliding offone of its fingers 8%. The neck end of this lowermost bottle is restingon the horizontal portion 85 of the stationary support 77 and tilts andslides thereon as the butt end of the bottle falls free. A chute 87directs the released bottle forward and out of the magazine.

It will be noted that, as in the previously described embodiments, theneck end of the bottle being dispensed (the lowermost bottle 72 of Figs.9 through 11) is laterally displaced from the neck end of the bottlenext above in the magazine. This displacement prevents interferencebetween the neck ends of these two bottles as the lowermost bottle tiltson and slides off the stationary support 77.

To insure freedom of movement of the bottle being released, the nextbottle above is independently supported completely out of contact withthe lowermost bottle as it is leaving the magazine. Referring to Figs. 9and 11, note that, with the butt endof the next to the lowermost bottlesupported as shown by one finger of starwheel 78 while the butt end ofthe lowermost bottle is sliding off another finger of the starwheel, the

7 cap end of the next to the lowermost bottle is within the' confines-ofthe lowerend of channeled rear guide /4, and- 'an intermediate shoulderportion of the next tothe lowermost bottle rests on the uppermost endportion 82 'of the stationary support. The sloping portion 84 of thestationary support immediately adjacent the upper end 82015 the supporttends to promote a lateral displacement 'of'the neck end of a bottledescending thereover. Lateral motion of a bottle in the position of thenext to the lowermost bottle in Figs. 9 to ll is prevented, however,because the cap end of the bottle is restrained by the rear guide 74.The neck end of this next to the lowermost bottle -is supported then byvirtue of its being wedged between'the upper end dl of the stationarysupport which contacts a shoulder portion of the bottle at a pointindicated'by the arrow A, and the lower edge 83 of the fear g'uide 74which'contacts the bottle near its cap-at the point indicated by thearrow B.

Con'sider now-the releasing of this next bottle from its wedged positionon the upper end of the stationary support 77. Rotation of the starwheel'78, in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 9 lowersthe butt end of the bottle. Simultaneously,'the point of contact betweenthe starwheel finger 8t) and this bottle shifts to a position nearer themiddle of the bottle. This combined action of downward tilting ofthebutt end of the bottle and shifting of its point of support-closer toits center of gravity causes the bottle to slide on thesupportinglfinger 8d toward the front of the magazine'(to the left as viewed inFig. 9) until its butt end encounters the'n'ext finger 80 of thestarwheel 78. This places the bottle-in the position occupied by thelowermost bottle shown in full lines in Fig. 12.

' iIt will be noted that each bottle '72 is tapered in the shoulderportion contacted by the upper end 82 of the stationary support, withthe diameter of the bottle becoming progressively smaller toward its capend. This is. acharacteristic feature of soft beverage bottles. Theslightaxial shift (toward the front of the magazine) of the bottleresting on the stationary support upper end 82 in moving from theposition it occupies in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 12 presentsto the stationary support, at contact point A, a reduced shoulderdiameter such as to permit the neck end of this bottle to pass betweenthecontact points A and B on, respectively, the stationary support '77and the rear guide '74. This reduction in bottle diameter atcontactpoint A is illustrated in Fig. 13 (a sectionai view throughcontact point A) in which there is superimposed upon the section throughthe lower bottle a dot and dash outline corresponding to a similarsection through the same bottle in the position shown in Figs. 9 through11. The lowermost bottle in @full lines in Fig. 12 is just beingreleased from atop the upper end 82 of the stationary support and,with-continued rotation of the starwheel '73, will descend the slopingportion 84 of the stationary support, eventually coming to-rest with itsneck end supported on the horizontal portion 85 of the stationarysupport and its butt end supported by a finger 8% of the starwheel 78 inthe position indicated by the lowermost dot and dash line bottle in Fig.12.

The' sloping portion 34 of the stationary support 77 extends diagonallytoward the rear of the magazine, thus providing contact with decreasingshoulder and neck diameters of the bottle descending the stationarysupport to prevent the bottle from wedging against the lower edge 83 ofrear guide 74 once it has been released therefrom.

The lowermost bottle then has its neck end resting on the horizontalportion 85 of the stationary support 77 and displaced laterally frombeneath the neck of the next bottle above. In this position, it may bereleased from the magazine by further rotation of the starwheel 78 asdescribed above.

' "Thisinvention has been described by reference only to the essentialsof a dispensing magazine structure. "It is to be understood, however,that the' magazine would normally' be' disposedwithinc a =Iefriger ated*and insulated cabinet designed to chill the drinks priorto 'their beingdispensed. *Suitable coin-contr ol meanswould likewise be associatedwith the cabinet=for controlling energization of the electric motors/52and 53'to permit the .vending mechanism of eitherembodiment'to undergo adispensingoperation only after the customer has inserted into thecabinetthe proper coin orcoins.

-The invent-ion has also been described only with reference=tosingle'stack dispensing magazines. it is apparent, however, that theinvention is equally applicable tomagazines-having a plurality ofside-by-side bottle stacks. 'ID.'=SllCh --applications the releasablesupport means for the' butt ends of the bottles *for each bottle stack,that'is, the-vending- 'disc 28 0f the first-embodiment and thestarwheels 49 and78 ofthe-s'econdiand'third embodiments,-would=bemounted on a single drive shaft-and would employ asingledriving means,such as a motor. By mounting the releasable support means on the :commondrive 'shaftin such a manner that the releasable means for eachtstack isangularly displaced from the releasable means of-tthe other stacks,sequential vending from 'the-stacks=can be obtained. Since sequentialvending fromapluralityof stacks in a vending machine is well known andwell understood by those skilled. in this art, no: detail :descriptionthereof is. deemed necessary here. Itisimentioned .only'to make it clearthat this in vention is applicable .to such :arrangement.

It'is, of course, evident thatsuitable manually actuated drive .meanscould be substituted for the electric motors 3.2, 53 *or.81 if .thistypefof operation is desired.

From theforegoing it will beapparent that this invention provides anovel and .inexpensivemechanism for releasing bottles :from a magazinein which they arestored in stacked relationship.

While several .forms of'the invention have beenv described, it is to beunderstood thattchanges'and modifica- .tions other thanthosespecifically referred to may be made therein without departing fromthe vscope of the invention as defined by the appende'drclaims.

What is'claimed is:

l. In bottle dispensing apparatus, the combination of a magazine forholding a'zplurality of bottles in stacked r lationship with the axesof-all but the lowermost of said bottles warranged substantially ina'single vertical plane, said magazineincluding guide portions formaintaining the butt'ends of all of said bottles in substantiallyvertical alignment, releasable means for supporting the butt end of thelowermost bottle in said magazine, stationary means Fforsupporting theneck end of the lowermost bottle in said magazine, said stationary meanshaving an inclined portion adapted to angularly displace the axis ofthelowermost bottle with respect to the axis of the next lowermost bottlewhereby the neck of the lowermost bottle is-laterally displaced'from theneck of the next lowermost bottle.

2. In bottlevdispensing apparatus, the combination of a. magazine forholding a plurality of bottles in stacked relationship, said magazine:including a pair of guide members for'the butt ends of the bottles andadapted to maintain the butt .end of thelowerm'ost bottle insubstantial-vertical alignment with'the butt end of the next lowermostbottle, said magazine including another pair of-guide members forconfining the neckends of all but the lowermost bottle substantially invertical alignment, stationary means for supporting the neck end vof thelowermost bottle, said stationary supporting means having atleast aportion thereof extending laterally from beneath the neck :end .of thenextlowermost bottle for permitting lateral displacement vof the neckend of the lowermost bottle with respect to the neck end of the nextlowermost bottle, and a releasable support for the butt endof thelowermost bottle, said releasable support being vertically aligned withthe butt ends of said lowermost and next lowermost bottles, theconstruction and arrangement being such that the neck end of thelowermost bottle is free to pivot on the stationary supporting meanswithout interference with the neck of the next lowermost bottle.

3. In bottle dispensing apparatus, the combination of a magazine forholding a plurality of bottles in vertical stacked relationship, saidmagazine including portions on each side of the butt ends of saidbottles for confining the butt ends of all of said bottles substantiallyin vertical alignment, said magazine including portions on each side ofthe neck ends of said bottles for confining the neck ends of all but thelowermost bottle substantially in vertical alignment, stationary meansfor supporting the neck end of the lowermost bottle, said stationarysupporting means having at least a portion thereof extending laterallyfrom beneath the neck end of the next lowermost bottle for permittinglateral displacement of the neck end of the lowermost bottle withrespect to the neck end of the next lowermost bottle, and releasablemeans disposed beneath and aligned with the butt ends of the bottles insaid magazine for supporting the butt end of the lowermost bottle, theconstruction and arrangement being such that the neck end of thelowermost bottle is free to pivot on the stationary supporting meanswithout interference with the neck of the next lowermost bottle when thebutt end of the lowermost bottle is released.

'4. In bottle dispensing apparatus, the combination of a magazine forstoring bottles in stacked relationship, said magazine including a pairof guide members for the butt ends of the bottles and adapted tomaintain the butt end of the lowermost bottle in substantial verticalalignment with the butt end of the next lowermost bottle, said magazineincluding another pair of guide members for confining the neck ends ofall but the lowermost bottle substantially in vertical alignment, meansfor releasably supporting the butt end of the lowermost bottle in thestack, stationary means for supporting the neck end of said lowermostbottle, said stationary supporting means having an inclined portionadapted to guide the neck end of the lowermost bottle laterally frombeneath the neck end of the next lowermost bottle in the stack wherebythe neck end of the lowermost bottle is free to slide oif saidstationary support without interference from the neck end of the nextlowermost bottle when the butt end of the lowermost bottle is released,and means for impeding movement of a bottle along the inclined portionof said stationary supporting means to prevent the next lowermost bottlefrom descending said inclined portion as the lowermost bottle is beingdispensed.

5. In bottle dispensing apparatus, the combination of a magazine forstoring bottles in stacked relationship, said magazine including a pairof guide members for the butt ends of the bottles and adapted tomaintain the butt end of the lowermost bottle in substantial verticalalignment with the 'butt end of the next lowermost bottle, said magazineincluding another pair of guide members for confining the neck ends ofall but the lowermost bottle substantially in vertical alignment, meansfor reieasably supporting the butt end of the lowermost bottle in thestack, stationary means for supporting the neck end of said lowermostbottle, said stationary supporting means having an inclined portionadapted to guide the neck end of the lowermost bottle laterally frombeneath the neck end of the next lowermost bottle in the stack wherebythe neck end of the lowermost bottle is free to slide 011? saidstationary supporting means without interference from the neck end ofthe next lowermost bottle when the butt end of the lowermost bottle isreleased, means for impeding movement of a bottle along the inclinedportion of said stationary supporting means to prevent the nextlowermost bottle from descending said inclined portion as the lowermostbottle is being dispensed, and means responsive to movement of the nextlowermost bottle by said releasable supporting for causing said nextbottle to be released by said impeding means and descend the inclinedportion of said stationary supporting means after the lowermost bottleis released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,710,621 Henderson Apr. 23, 1929 1,974,277 Johnson Sept. 18, 19342,563,204 Andrews Aug. 7, -1 2,693,300 Childers et a1. Nov. 2, 1954

